Kate’s 2¢: “The Sound of Honor” by Jim Stovall

“The Sound of Honor” by Jim Stovall

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   “…Stovall has endeavored to convince people that having a positive attitude, focusing their energy, and acting upon their motivations can bring positive results in their lives.” 

   I like that this story tells it like it is to become blind, learn to trust again, and venture forth on your own.

   Jon Womastek  did a great job of reading this story for the NLS.

www.jimstovall.com

Jim Stovall (born August 3, 1958) is an American writer best known for his bestselling novel The Ultimate Gift.[1] The book was made into the movie The Ultimate Gift, distributed by 20th Century Fox. The Ultimate Gift has a prequel called The Ultimate Life and a sequel called The Ultimate Legacy.

Stovall is blind and is an advocate on behalf of people with blindness. He works to make television and movies accessible to the blind as President of the Narrative Television Network, an organization that has received various award recognitions including an Emmy award, a Media Access Award, and an International Film and Video Award.

He was chosen as the International Humanitarian of the Year, joining Jimmy Carter, Nancy Reagan, and Mother Teresa as recipients of this honor.

He has also received an Honorary Doctorate of Law from ORU for his work with the disabled.

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

The Sound of Honor DBC12208

Stovall, Jim. Reading time: 5 hours, 20 minutes.

Read by Jon Womastek. A production of Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

Disability

Mystery and Detective Stories

Psychological Fiction

Jake Dyer, a blind man, and his associates have only three rules in the lost and found business-always get paid, never get emotionally involved, and avoid dangerous people. But then there was the time they successfully shattered all three-sometimes you just gotta do the right thing! Unrated.

Downloaded: June 18, 2020

Kate’s 2¢: “The Dutch House” by Ann Patchett

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read. I’m just saying…

I’m so used to listening to the BARD real readers, that it takes a while to understand the synthesized voice reading a BookShare story. It is apt to voice the quote marks and astericks, as well as, all the page numbers. I think these features would be helpful to students if they were consistent in which features it announced. The synthesized cadence is a bit awkward at times, but one can get the gist of the story. The BookShare synopsis sums up the narrative arc and poses several interesting issues to ponder after reading the story.
Some of the thoughts expressed during a book discussion group I attended were how the house took on being a powerful character on its own and/or it symbolized the last time Mav, Dan, their Dad and Mom were a family. The author used the house as a narrative technique to focus the wide spread time-line and that the author seems to have a big house featured in most of her stories.
The facilitator of the Book Discussion group said her favorites by Ann Patchett were “Bell Canto”, “Magician’s assistant”, and “Commonwealth”.

From the WEB:
If you’re into watching youtube and other videos, bing ‘Ann Patchett’.

From : BookShare: Synopsis
Ann Patchett, the New York Times bestselling author of Commonwealth and State of Wonder, returns with her most powerful novel to date: a richly moving story that explores the indelible bond between two siblings, the house of their childhood, and a past that will not let them go.
“’Do you think it’s possible to ever see the past as it actually was?’ I asked my sister. We were sitting in her car, parked in front of the Dutch House in the broad daylight of early summer.”
At the end of the Second World War, Cyril Conroy combines luck and a single canny investment to begin an enormous real estate empire, propelling his family from poverty to enormous wealth. His first order of business is to buy the Dutch House, a lavish estate in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. Meant as a surprise for his wife, the house sets in motion the undoing of everyone he loves.
The story is told by Cyril’s son Danny, as he and his older sister, the brilliantly acerbic and self-assured Maeve, are exiled from the house where they grew up by their stepmother. The two wealthy siblings are thrown back into the poverty their parents had escaped from and find that all they have to count on is one another. It is this unshakeable bond between them that both saves their lives and thwarts their futures.
Set over the course of five decades, The Dutch House is a dark fairy tale about two smart people who cannot overcome their past. Despite every outward sign of success, Danny and Maeve are only truly comfortable when they’re together. Throughout their lives they return to the well-worn story of what they’ve lost with humor and rage. But when at last they’re forced to confront the people who left them behind, the relationship between an indulged brother and his ever-protective sister is finally tested.
The Dutch House is the story of a paradise lost, a tour de force that digs deeply into questions of inheritance, love and forgiveness, of how we want to see ourselves and of who we really are. Filled with suspense, you may read it quickly to find out what happens, but what happens to Danny and Maeve will stay with you for a very long time.
A New York Times Bestseller
Copyright: 2019
Book Details
Book Quality: Publisher Quality
ISBN-13: 9780062963697
Related ISBNs: 9780062963673
Publisher: HarperCollins
Date of Addition: 11/15/19
Copyrighted By: Ann Patchett
Adult content: No
Language: English
Has Image Descriptions: No
Categories: Literature and Fiction,Parenting and Family
Submitted By: Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions: This is a copyrighted book.

Cornucopia: Zaps

Zaps

(adapted  Senryū 5, 7, 5)

Radiation Zaps

Take lead in dance with cancer.

Remission at last!

I have completed three weeks of radiation therapy for Stage One-A Breast Cancer. It is considered to be in remission now, so, I’m cautiously optimistic that I am cancer neutral.

I’ll be on an aromatase inhibitor for several years to keep my body’s environment unfriendly to

breed any more invasive cancer cells. Nutrition and environment will be the watch words from now on.

My love and thanks to you,

Kate